The Kwara State government made N7.7 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the last four months, Executive Chairman of the Internal Revenue (KWIRS), Muritala Awodun, has said.
He said: “What we are looking at is to begin to run after a realistic N33 billion budget for 2018, which is N2.7 billion per month.
“The total IGR in January was N2.3 billion as against the N2.7 billion budget; February was N2.39 against N2.7 billion, making a total of N1.8 billion as opposed to N2.7 billion. And in April, we made N1.29 billion as against N2.7 billion. This makes a total of N7.7 billion, a far cry from the N11 billion projected for the four months.
“But specifically, if you look at it against last year, you will see that in the first four months of last year, N7.4 billion was made. It is a marginal increase we have seen but considering that we went through a lot of restructuring and all that. One can understand while it is marginal.’’
The House of Assembly has approved a N250 million loan request by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for the upgrade of infrastructure.
The House approved the request after a debate, following the adoption of a report by the Committee on Land and Housing at the plenary yesterday.
House leader Hassan Oyeleke, who said the money was captured in the 2018 budget, urged lawmakers to grant the request.
Other contributors urged the House to allow the state access the loan as it will aid development.
Deputy Speaker Matthew Okedare, who presided over plenary, directed the Clerk to communicate the approval to the governor.
The loan, which is to be sourced from a commercial bank, will be used to upgrade infrastructure and build the Lands Administration Secretariat.
The governor yesterday swore in commissioners, calling on the people to co-operate with the new aides.
Ahmed reminded the people that “the development of Kwara State is a collective responsibility”.
According to him, while the people demand more dividends of democracy, they must fulfil their obligations by paying taxes and complying with the law.
“Indeed, no state can claim to be prosperous without a robust tax payment culture that enables the government to fund critical programmes and strengthen people’s right to demand greater accountability and service,” he added.
Ahmed, who urged the commissioners to be innovative, diligent and result-oriented, said they were expected to implement government programmes with the required vigour and commitment to impact positively on people’s lives.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kamaldeen Ajibade, who spoke for his colleagues, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve.
He pledged their readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them by contributing to ensuring success of the administration.